Christian actions.
Mahatma Gandhi said,
"Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him."
Mahatma Gandhi.
I am convinced Gandhi seen many people who said they were Christians but were not. He met Christians that will one day hear the words of Jesus who said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.
When I look at the world around me here in North America I see tragically, all to often Christians being known for what they are against. Not what they are for.
Christians particularly so called “born again Christians” or “Evangelical Christians”, here in the United States and Canada are seen quite often as closed minded, Judgmental, bigoted, even as people who spew hatred against those they disagree with.
When I hear these things I feel ashamed at being a Christian. True Christians are not those things. True Christians follow the teachings of Jesus to Love God, Love their neighbour, Love their enemy and pray for those who persecute them.
True Christians follow the teachings of Jesus who said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
Who obey the words of the apostle Paul who said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus or the apostles tell Christians to demonstrate against the government. Nowhere in the teaching of Jesus and the Apostles do they tell Christians to speak out against anything they disagree with.
Quite the contrary the apostle Paul said,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink....” Romans 12:18-20b.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
Those who claim to be Christians and are speaking out against and protesting against things they disagree with should rethink what they are doing. Only God can judge righteously. For only God knows what is truly in the hearts of the individual.
The job of the Christian on this earth is clear. Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
We will not win one soul for Christ if we continually judge and protest against those we disagree with.
You cannot win a soul for Christ if you are know for what you are against.
If you consider yourself a Christian reading this take stock of your actions. Francis of Assisi made an interesting point when he said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi.
What are your deeds telling those around you?
Please think about it.
Mahatma Gandhi said,
"Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him."
Mahatma Gandhi.
I am convinced Gandhi seen many people who said they were Christians but were not. He met Christians that will one day hear the words of Jesus who said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.
When I look at the world around me here in North America I see tragically, all to often Christians being known for what they are against. Not what they are for.
Christians particularly so called “born again Christians” or “Evangelical Christians”, here in the United States and Canada are seen quite often as closed minded, Judgmental, bigoted, even as people who spew hatred against those they disagree with.
When I hear these things I feel ashamed at being a Christian. True Christians are not those things. True Christians follow the teachings of Jesus to Love God, Love their neighbour, Love their enemy and pray for those who persecute them.
True Christians follow the teachings of Jesus who said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
Who obey the words of the apostle Paul who said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus or the apostles tell Christians to demonstrate against the government. Nowhere in the teaching of Jesus and the Apostles do they tell Christians to speak out against anything they disagree with.
Quite the contrary the apostle Paul said,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink....” Romans 12:18-20b.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
Those who claim to be Christians and are speaking out against and protesting against things they disagree with should rethink what they are doing. Only God can judge righteously. For only God knows what is truly in the hearts of the individual.
The job of the Christian on this earth is clear. Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
We will not win one soul for Christ if we continually judge and protest against those we disagree with.
You cannot win a soul for Christ if you are know for what you are against.
If you consider yourself a Christian reading this take stock of your actions. Francis of Assisi made an interesting point when he said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi.
What are your deeds telling those around you?
Please think about it.
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